Transposing-keyboard.



T. SHARKEY.

TRANSPOSING KEYBOARD.

APPLICATION H'LED MAR. 6| |917.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

T. A. SHARKEY.

TRANSPOSING KEYBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.6. 917.

1,244,250. Patented oct. 23,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. V'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. SHARKEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH SHARKEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TRANSPOSING-KEYBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

Application lled March G, 1917. Serial No. 152,793.

To all whom, it may concern.'

lie it known that I, THOMAS A. SHARKEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and 11nproved Transposing-Keyboard, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to pianos, organs and similar key/controlled musical instruments, and its object is to provide a new and improved transposing keyboard which is simple and durable in construction, easily manipulated to enable a player to readily shift the .playing keys sidewise from the right to the left or vice versa until the playing keys are in the desired position corresponding to a set of action keys to enable the player to execute the notes of a piece of music in any scale desired irrespective of the scale in which the music is written.

In order to accomplish the desired result, use is made of a set of playing keys, a set 0f action keys arranged below the said playing keys and actuated therefrom, a key frame slidable sidewise on the instrument and on which the said playing keys are mounted, means controlled by the player for moving the action keys out of or into engagement with the said playing keys, and means controlled by the player `for shifting said key frame sidewise at the time the action keys are out of engagement with the playing keys.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an upright piano provided with the transposing keyboard, parts being shown in section on the lines 1-1 of F ig. 2;

F ig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of the transposing keyboard in position in the piano casing taken practically on the'same section line as Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation of the v same on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 lis 4an enlarged face view of the scale indicator; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional front elevation of one side of the piano casing provided with a pocket for the reception of the end keys of the playing keys.

Within the piano casing 10 of the upright piano shown in Figs. l and 2 is mounted the usual sounding board 11 over which extend the piano strings 12 adapted to be sounded by the hammers 13 of a piano action 1-1 of any approved construction. Each abstract 15 of the Piano action 14 rests on an action key 16 mounted to swing on a key rail 17, and the forward ends of the several action keys 16 extend into the keyboard frame 1S provided with the usual fall board 19.

On the top of the forward ends of the action keys 16 are arranged buttons 2O adapted to be engaged in recesses 21 formed in the under sides of a set of playing keys 22 arranged in a plane above the action keys 16, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The rear portions of the several keys 22 are fulcrumed at 23 in a key frame 24, and therear terminals of the said playing keys 22 are pressed onl by springs 25 to normally hold the playing keys 22 in uppermost position, as plainlv shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the upward swinging movement of the keys being limited by feltcd stops 2G arranged in the bottom of the key frame 24 and engaged by the rear terminals of the playing keys 22. The key frame 24 isl mounted to slide sidewse in a guideway fixed in the keyboard frame 18 to allow of shifting the playing keys 22 into any desired position relative to the action keys 1G. The forward portions of the playing keys 22 are similar to the ordinary keys of a piano or organ as now constructed and are playedin the usual manner by the player.

The end keys of the playing keys 22 extend within pockets 31, arranged on the sides of the casing 10. as plainly indicated in Fig. 2, it being understood that the said pockets 31 and 32 are of such length as to permit of shifting the playing kevs 22 from the left to the right or from the right to the left an aggregate distance of a full octave.

ln order to permit of shifting the key frame 24 and with it the set of black and white playing keys 22, it is necessary to swing the forward ends of the action keys 16 downward with a view to disengage the buttons 20 from the recesses 21. For the purpose mentioned the action keys 16 are provided with depending brackets 35 having vertical slots 36 engaged by a. rod 37 mounted on the forward ends of two transversely extending levei's 38, one at each end of the keyboard, and fulcruined at 3S) on the back of the piano casing 10, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. One of the levers 38 is pivotally connected by a link 40 with a pedal 41 under the control of the pla er so that when the pedal 41 is pressed a cowiiward swinging movement is given by the link- 40 to the lever whereby the rod 37 acts on the brackets- 35 and swings the. action keys 16 downwardly to disengage the buttons 2O from the recesses 21. When the action keys are in this position the operatorcan shift the key frame 24 sidewise to the right or to the left and with it the playing, keys 22. When the playing keys 22 have been shifted to the desired position' the operator releases the pedal 41 so that the latter returns to its uppermost position by the action of its spring 42 and the lever 38 swings upward and with it the action keys 16 to engage the buttons 20 with the recesses 21 of the corresponding playing keys 22 directly above the corresponding action keys 16. It is understood that when the pedal 41 is in normal position the action keys 16 can be actuated from the playing k'eys 22 without any interference by the rod 37 and its lever 38.

Normally the key frame 24 is locked against sidewise movement and for this purpose the upper end of the link 40 is provided with an upward extension 43 passing through an opening 44 in the bottom of the guideway 30 and into one of a series of apertures 45 formed in the bottom of the key frame 24. Thus normally the key frame 24 is held against sidewise shift ing by the locking end 43 of the link 40 enga ging one of the apertures 45, but when the pedal 41 is pressed the locking end 43 moves out of engagement with the corresponding aperture 45 thus allowing shifting of the key frame 24 and its black and white keys 22.

ln order to permit the player to conven iently shift the key frame 24 and its black and white keys 22 in a sidewise direction either to the right or to the left, the following arrangement is made: On the top of the key frame 24 near one side thereof, preferably the right-hand side, is secured a rack i 50 in mesh with a gear wheel 51 mounted to rotate loosely on a stud 52 secured to the front 53 of the casing 10 (see Fig. 3). The

' gear wheel 51 is in mesh with ay pinion 454 secured on a shaft 55 journaled in a suitable bearing arranged on the front 53 of the casing 10, and on the forward end of the shaft 55 is secureda suitable handle 56 under the control of the player. When the key frame 24 is unlocked on pressing the pedal 41, as previously explained, then the operator by taking hold of the' handle 56. and turning the same can shift the key frame 24 sidewise as the turning of the handle 56 causes the shaft 55 and the pinion 54 to turn whereby a rotary motion is given to the gear wheel 51 and as the latter is in mesh with the rack 50 said rack is shifted to the right or to theleft and with it the key frame 24, according to the direction in which the handle 56 is turned at the time.

In order to permit the player to shift the playing keys 22 into correct position for playing the notes of a piece of music in any desired key irrespective of the scale in which the music is written, use is made of a scale indicator moving in unison with the key frame 24 and arranged as follows: On the gear wheel 51 is secured a gear wheel 60 in mesh with a gear wheel 61 mounted to turn on a stud 62 attached to the front 53 of the piano casing (see Fig. 3). ()n the hub 63 of the gear wheel 61 is secured a ring-shaped scale-indicating member 7() provided on its face with scales T1 adapted to appear in an opening T2 formed in the front 53 of the casing 10. The movable scale-indieatiiig member operates in conjunction with a fixed scale-indimlting member 73 arranged on the wall of the opening T2 and provided on its face with scales 74, as plainly shown in Fig. lVhen the playing keys 22 are in normal position relative to the action keys 16, as shown in the drawings, then the movable scale indicating member 70 is iu the position shown in Fig. 5, that is, like scales T1 and 74 are in register with each other. lVlien it is desired to shift the playing keys 22 relative to the action keys 16 to any desired scale then the action keys 16 are first swung downward, as previously explained, by the operator pressing the pedal 4 1, and then the player turns the handle 56 to shift the key frame 24 and to turn the movable indicating member 70 until a scale 71 is in register with the scale 74 in which the music is written, and then the operator releases the handle 56 and the pedal 41 so that the action keys 16 are returned to normal uppermost position and into proper relation with the corresponding playing keys above, and at the same time the key frame 24 is locked against shifting by the extension 43 engaging a corresponding aperture 45. As illustrated in the drawings, the playing keys 22 are arranged to be shifted a total distance to the left corresponding to cle aggregate width of tlireeplaying keys s and to the right a total distance of the aggregate width of four playing keys 22,. thus making provision for the shifting of the playing kevs for an octave.

It is understood that when a piece of music to be executed on the piano is written, ay in the key of C, and it is desired to pla-y it in the key of G, it is only necessary for the player to press the pedal 41 and to turn the handle 56 until the ke, of C on the 'movable scale indicating mein er 70 registers with the key of GrV on the fixed scale indicating member 7 3.

If it is desired to advance a piece of music a half tone, it is only necessary to shift the key frame 24 from normal position until the movable scale indicating member has, say, key C registering with C# on the fixed scale indicating member 73, and to lower a half tone the handle 56 is turned in an opposite direction until the key Cof the movable scale-indicating member is in register with B. l

The transposing keyboard shown and described is very slmple and durable in construction and can bev easily manipulated to shift the playing keys 22 into a desired relation with the action keys 16 to actuate the latter on playing the playing keys 22 in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a piano or similar musical instrument, a set of playing keys, a set of action keys arranged below the said playing keys and actuated therefrom, a key frame slidable sidewise on the instrument and on means controlled by the player for swinging the action keys out of or into engagement with the said playing keys, and means controlled by the player to shift the said key frame sidewise at the time the action keys are out of engagement with the playing keys.

2. In a piano or similar musical instrument, a set of playing keys, a set of action keys arranged below the said playing keys and actuated thereby, a key frame slidable sidewise on the instrument and on which the said playing keys are mounted, locking lmeans controlled by the player, the said locking means when in one position locking the said frame against sliding movement and allowing the action keys to engage the said playing keys, the said locking means when moved into another position unlocking the said frame and moving the said action keys out of engagement with the said playing keys, and shifting means under the control of the player and connected with the said frame to shift the latter and the playing keys sidewise to the right or to the left at the time the frame is unlocked and the action keys are out of engagement with the playing keys. y

3.k In a piano or similar musical instrument, a guideway, a key frame mounted to slide sidewise in the said guideway, playing keys mounted to swing up and down in the said key frame and having rearward springpressed extensions to `hold the keys normally in raised positions, `action keys arranged below the said playing keys and engaging'the piano action, the said action keys having buttons at the top engaged by the under side of the said playing keys, slotted brackets depending from the said action keys, a rod engaging the slots in the said brackets, a lever carrying the said rod, a pedal, and a link connecting the said pedal with the said level' to swing the latter and the action keys downward to, disengage the action keys from the playing keys to allow of shifting the key frame and playing keys sidewise.

el. In a iano or similar musical instrument, a guideway, a key frame mounted to slide sidewise in the said guideway, playing keys mounted to swing up and down in the said key frame and having rearward springpressed extensions to hold the keys nor mally in raised positions, action keys arranged below the said playingr keys and engaging the piano action, the said action keys having buttons at the top engaged by the under side of the said playing keys,

slotted brackets depending from the said action keys, a rod engaging the slots in the said brackets, a lever carrying the said rod,

a pedal, and a link connecting the said pedal wlth the said lever to'swing the latter and the action keys downward to disengage the action keys from the playing keys to allow of shifting the key frame and playing keys sidewise, the said link having a locking extension adapted to engage the said key frame to normally lock the latter against sidewise shifting.

5. In a piano or similar musical instrument, a guideway, a key frame mounted to slide sidewise in the said guideway, playing keys mounted to swing up and down in the said key frame and having rearward springpressed extensions to hold the keys normally in raised positions, action keys arranged below the said playing keys and engaging the piano action, the said action keys having buttons at the top engaged by the under side of the said playing keys, slotted brackets depending from the said action keys, a rod engaging the slots in the said brackets, a lever carrying the said rod, a pedal, a link connecting the said pedal with the said lever to swing the latter and the action keys downward to disengage the action keys from the playing keys to allow of shifting the key frame and playing keyssidewise, the said i link having a locking extension adapted to engage the said key frame to normally lock the latter against sidewise shifting, a rack secured lengthwise on the said key frame, v

` and a manually controlled gearing in mesh keys arranged below the said playing keys and actuated therefrom, a key frame slidable sidewise on the instrument and -on which the said playing keys are mounted, means controlled by the player for swinging the action keys out of or into engagement with the said playing keys, means controlled by the player to shift the said key frame sidewise atthe time the action keys are out of engagement with the playing keys, and a scale indicator having a fixed and a movable member, the latter being controlled by the said key frame.

7. In a piano or similar musical instrument, a guideway, a key. frame mounted to slide sidewise in the said guideway, playing keys mounted to swing up and down in the said key frame and having rearward springpressed extensions to hold the keys normally in raised positions, action keys arranged below the said playing keys and engaging the piano action, the said action keys having buttons at the top engaged by the under side of the said playing keys, slotted brackets depending from the said action keys, a rod cngaging the slots in the said brackets, a lever carrying the said rod, a pedal, a link connecting the said pedal with the said ievcr'to swing the latter and the action keys downward to disengage the action keys from the playing keys to allow of shifting the key frame and playing keys sidewise, the said link having a locking extension adapted to engage the said key frame to normally lock the latter against sidewise shifting, a rack secured lengthwise on the said key trame, a manually controlled gearing in mesh with the said rack to shift the key frame sidewise at the time the latter is unlocked by the said link extension, and a scale indicator having a fixed and a rotatable member, the latter being rotated by the said gearing on shifting the said key frame.

8. In a piano or similar musical instrument, a keyboard frame having pockets at the sides, and having a guideway extending lengthwise, a key frame mounted to slide sidewise in the said guideway, playing lzeys pivoted on the said key frame and projecting forwardly beyond the key frame and its guideway, the end playing keys passing into the said pockets on sliding the key frame sidewise, action keys below the saul playing keys and adapted to be actuated by said playing keys, and a scale indicator controlled by the said shiftable key frame to indicate the position of the playing keys relative to the action keys.

9. In a piano or similar musical instrument, a keyboard frame having pockets at the sides, and having a guideway extending lengthwise, a key frame mounted to slide sidewise in the said guideway, playing keys pivoted on the said key frame and projecting forwardly beyond the key frame and its guideway, the end playing keys passing into the said pockets on sliding the key frame sidewise, action keys below the said playing keys and adapted to be actuated by said playing keys, a manually controlled gearing mounted with the said key frame to shift the latter sidewise, and a scale indicator having a fixed and a movable member of which the latter is connected with the said gearing.

THOMAS A. SHARKEY. 

